Vermont Agency of Transportation shifts 250 plows to 24-hour alert status for winter
Drivers will be on call around the clock starting December 1 after crews finished mounting equipment and preparing infrastructure.
By Michael Bennett ·
Vermont Agency of Transportation crews have completed final preparations for the coming snow season, with drivers scheduled to enter 24-hour on-call status beginning December 1. The agency operates approximately 250 plow trucks across the state's highway system, tasked with clearing snow and applying treatments such as salt brine and sand. This deployment follows a period of warm weather earlier in the week that temporarily paused some fieldwork.
Greg Smith, the regional maintenance director for the Northeast, explained that the agency's preparation cycle begins immediately after the previous winter ends. He noted that crews spend the warmer months addressing infrastructure to ensure readiness for colder months. This maintenance includes trimming trees along roadways to allow sunlight to reach the pavement, which helps manage snow accumulation and ice formation.
Smith detailed the specific equipment being installed on the fleet. He described a liquid salt tank that mounts to the rear of a tandem dump truck. The tank holds approximately 1,200 gallons of a mixture containing water and salt at a 23.3 concentration. This solution is sprayed with granular dry salt as it is dispensed from the vehicle, creating a more effective de-icing treatment than dry salt alone.
Inside the cab, operators manage multiple mechanical systems simultaneously. Smith emphasized the complexity of the task, noting that drivers must monitor their surroundings while controlling the salt spray and plow movements. He advised the public not to crowd the plow because operators are focused on the equipment and the road conditions in front of, behind, and around the vehicle.
With colder temperatures now in the forecast, the agency is shifting from infrastructure repair to active snow preparation. The 250 trucks will clear roadways whenever snow falls once the formal winter maintenance schedule begins. This operational shift marks the end of the preparatory phase and the start of the active response period for the 2026-2027 season.
